India’s ace
off-spinner
Ravichandra Ashwin had to wait for three Tests in the recently-concluded five-match series against India before claiming a five-wicket haul. He eventually ended up as the bowler with most wickets (26) in the series, but was still analysed as not at his best.
Backing the veteran, India captain
Rohit Sharma
said it’s not fair to expect a player to deliver everytime he is out on the field as players too are humans and can have off days despite putting their best foot forward.
“If there is an innings where he has not taken wickets, people start talking ‘Oh, he is not bowling well. This is happening, that is happening’,” Rohit said on his Instagram handle ‘Team Ro’.
“Arre bhai…insaan hai (guys, he is human). At the end of the day, he is trying his best. But imagine, for him to come out on top every time being in this situation, and to do it and keep delivering series after series says a lot about what kind of a performer he is.”
With five-wicket hauls in Ranchi and Dharamsala Tests, Ashwin went past Anil Kumble’s record for most five-wicket hauls in the format. Before that, in the third Test at Rajkot, he took his 500th Test wicket.
Ashwin had to leave the Rajkot Test on day two to attend to his ailing mother and reunited with the squad on the fourth day of the match. He expressed his gratitude for the support provided by Rohit and stated that a player can put his life on the line for Rohit.
“His career speaks for himself,” said Rohit. “Look at the ‘Player of the Match’ and ‘Player of the Series’ awards that he has won. It tells you clearly that he has been a match-winner for Team India. Whenever we play in India, this guy puts his hand up all the time. And to me, it doesn’t matter whether you play in or outside India. Imagine the amount of pressure he has to go through,” said the India captain.
